FALCONS TOO GOOD FOR DEMONS TO STAY IN TOP TWO RACE

Monday, August 1, 2016 - 11:01 AM by Chris Pike

WEST Perth remained right in the race for a top two finish this WAFL season following a solid 46-point victory over Perth at HBF Arena on Saturday.

The Falcons were in control of the contest from the outset with the only four goals of the first quarter and the Demons never got closer than 16 points after quarter-time with West Perth going on to win 13.13 (91) to 6.9 (45).

It was an important win for West Perth as well following the bye and derby defeat at the hands of East Perth.

The 46-point win improves the Falcons to an 11-6 record to be two games clear in third place but also only percentage behind the second placed South Fremantle with West Perth's season to finish with games against Subiaco, Claremont and Swan Districts.

It also continues West Perth's dominance over Perth with the Falcons having now won the last 11 games over the Demons by an average of 45 points.

West Perth's forward-line helped ensure the Falcons kicked a winning score with Michael Lourey kicking four goals from nine kicks and six marks, and Max Duffy booting four goals as well from eight kicks and four marks.

Joel Leeson also kicked two goals in the final quarter against his former team.

The Falcons' midfield also got on top with Chris Keunen playing his best game since returning from a broken leg. He got the better of his battle with Angus Graham finishing with 17 possessions and 19 hit outs.

Shane Nelson racked up another 40 possessions for West Perth while Aaron Black had 32 disposals, Aidan Lynch 28 and Jay van Berlo 26 while Dean Munns did another outstanding tagging job holding Julian Jacobs to a career-low six disposals after averaging 25 so far in 2016.

Blake Wilhelm continued his tremendous form in the back-line for West Perth ending up with 29 possessions and six marks while Steven Browne finished with 19 disposals and eight marks.

It took less than a minute for the Falcons to get the opening goal on the board with Lourey nailing his first of four for the day.

Perth did create some goal scoring chances but went goalless in the opening term with West Perth in control of contest with captain van Berlo, Duffy and then Lourey kicking truly before quarter-time with the Falcons leading by 22 points.

Perth finally managed its first goal of the afternoon three minutes into the second quarter when Spencer White kicked truly, but again West Perth took control after and regained a 22-point advantage with Duffy kicking his second at the 18-minute mark.

White nailed a second shortly before half-time to bring the Demons back within 17 points before Duffy gave the Falcons a 23-point half-time lead when he kicked his third right on the siren leading into the main break.

Two goals in the opening three minutes of the second half saw the game all but out of reach of the Demons after Duffy booted his fourth major of the afternoon, and Andrew Strijk his first.

The Demons did reply thanks to former Royal Rowan Brookes at the five-minute mark and then with another to big man Sam Garstone, but two goals in three minutes to Lourey gave him four for the game and stretched the Falcons' lead back out to 35 points.

It remained 30 points by three quarter-time and then former Demon Leeson kicked West Perth's opening two goals of the final term before Mark Hamilton booted the last goal of the game to secure the solid 46-point victory.

The colts contest began proceedings on Saturday at HBF Arena with Perth ending up beating West Perth 15.6 (96) to 12.7 (79).

The Falcons made a flying start with seven goals to two in the first quarter but the Demons kicked the only five of the second term and then six goals to one in the last to end up winning by 17 points.

Oscar Allen kicked four goals for West Perth to go with 15 possessions, nine marks and 14 hit outs. Lachlan Johns added two goals for the Falcons with 18 disposals and five marks.